Jul 2 2010
Recently, North Carolina State University researchers have developed a new efficient method for the purpose of biofuel production from sources such as woody plants that significantly decreases the waste produced from the conventional techniques of biofuel production.
In the pursuit of creating new biofuel sources that are commercially viable, this technique represents a significant step. The new method can pave the way to make plant matter that are rich in lignin, a commercially feasible feedstock for biofuels, thus reducing the dependence of biofuels on food crops.
Generally, for making butanol, ethanol or even other biofuels, manufacturers have been using beets, corn or other plant matter that are high in simple sugars and starches. Since these crops are significantly staple foods, biofuels are currently competing for those crops with people. Non-edible matter including corn stalks and switchgrass are other biomass forms that can be used for making biofuels. But the energy potential of these crops is present inside the protective material of the plants, the lignin, which functions as the structural support for plants. North Carolina State University researchers have developed a new way for making lignin free carbohydrates. They are also able to produce carbohydrate rich solids with no liquid wastes or solid wastes, as such.
Source: http://www.ncsu.edu/